    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book III)]
    [November 10, 2004]
    [Pages 2959-2961]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at the Iftaar Dinner
    November 10, 2004

        Thank you all. Please be seated. Thank you. Thank you all for
    coming, and welcome to the White House, and Ramadan Mubarak. I'm honored
    to be with so many friends and distinguished guests.
        As we gather during this holy month, America is stronger and more
    hopeful because of the generosity and compassion of our Muslim citizens.
    Our Nation is safer and more prosperous because we have a

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    close relationship with our Islamic friends around the world. And
    tonight we honor the traditions of a great faith by hosting the Iftaar
    dinner here at the White House.
        I want to acknowledge our Secretary of State, Colin Powell. I appreciate his great service. I want to thank our
    Secretary of Energy, Spence Abraham, who is
    with us today. I want to thank Dr. Elias Zerhouni for his great work at the National Institutes of Health.
    Thank you. I want to thank all the distinguished Ambassadors who are
    with us today.
        I want to thank the American Muslim leaders who've joined us. I
    appreciate you coming from all around the country. I want to thank Imam
    Faizul Khan of the Islamic Center of Washington,
    who will lead the blessing tonight. And tonight we also remember the
    late Shaykh Zayid, the founder of the United Arab Emirates, who passed away last week. He was a wise
    leader, and America joins the people of the UAE in honoring his memory.
        For Muslims in America and around the world, Ramadan is a special
    time of reflection, fasting, and charity. It is a time to think of the
    less fortunate and to share God's gifts with those in need. It is a time
    of spiritual growth and prayer, and the heartfelt prayers offered by
    Muslims across America are a blessing for our whole Nation.
        Ramadan is also a time for togetherness and thanksgiving. And
    Muslims gather to break the fast, and there is so much to be thankful
    for. I know you're thankful for your families and communities, and we
    all pray for their safety and happiness in the year ahead. Here in
    America, Muslims also think of their brothers and sisters in distant
    lands where lives are being lifted up by liberty and by hope.
        In Iraq, families are observing this holy month in a free society.
    After enduring decades of tyranny and fear, the Iraqi people are guiding
    their nation toward democracy. And this January, they will choose their
    leaders in a free election.
        In Afghanistan, brave men and women have transformed a country, and
    they have inspired our world. Just over 3 years ago, the Taliban
    government controlled Afghanistan. They harbored terrorists and denied
    basic rights to millions of citizens. And today, the Taliban is gone
    from power; women have their freedom; girls go to school; and last
    month, the people of Afghanistan stood in long lines to cast their vote
    in a free election.
        The elections in Afghanistan and Iraq will be counted as landmark
    events in the history of liberty. And America will always be proud of
    our efforts to bring liberty and hope to those nations. Freedom is not
    America's gift to the world; freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each
    man and woman in this world.
        Over the next 4 years, we'll work to ensure that the gift of freedom
    reaches more men and women in the broader Middle East. By working with
    leaders in that region, we can advance reform and change in a vital part
    of the world. And as we do so, we'll build a better future for all
    mankind.
        As we defend liberty and justice abroad, we must honor those values
    here at home. At our founding, America made a commitment to justice and
    tolerance, and we keep that commitment today. We reject ethnic and
    religious bigotry in every form. We strive for a welcoming society that
    honors the life and faith of every person. We will always protect the
    most basic human freedom, the freedom to worship the Almighty God
    without any fear.
        In recent years, Americans of many faiths have come to learn more
    about our Muslim brothers and sisters. And the more we learn, the more
    we find that our commitments are broadly shared. As Americans, we all
    share a commitment to family, to protect and to love our children. We
    share a belief in God's justice and man's moral responsibility. We share
    the same hope for a future of peace. We have so much in

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    common and so much to learn from one another.
        Once again, I wish you a blessed Ramadan. I want to thank you for
    joining us at the White House for this Iftaar, and may God bless you
    all.

    Note: The President spoke at 5:58 p.m. on the State Floor at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Imam Faizul Khan, administrator,
    Islamic Society of the Washington Area.